#warm bath and nice dinner so she can relax!! yea yea yes

[seariii]

FIRST BATCH OF STRAWPAGE THINGIES!! WOOO!!

I LOVE YOU TOO!!! SO SO MUCH!!!!

YAAAAY ES APPROVES!!! AND DEEP COVER!! AND AN ES!!!

WIFE- OMF SHAKAJZKAHSKANSKWFB

I'm ascending

[kaunis-sielu]

Fire Dogs: 6

Steve pulls Grant’s hand off of your arm then steps in between you and Grant.

“Fawn are you okay?” He asks softly.

“I’m okay,” you assure him and he turns his gaze onto Grant.

“I thought I told you that you were to leave her alone.” His voice is low and furious, “And not only do I find you here, harassing her, putting your hands on her but you’re also telling everyone that she’s an Omega even though you know she doesn’t want people to know.”

“What’s it to you?” Grant sneers and you almost pity him. Steve, externally seems calm but you can feel the rage.

“You’re going to leave Fawn alone. You’re not going to tell anyone else she’s an Omega, you’re going to think she’s a Beta and if you do come across her you’re going to treat her with the respect she deserves.” Grant seems to be fighting the Alpha command, he grits his teeth and sweat starts to form on his brow. You know he won’t beat it though, your knees have practically buckled at the power behind his command. You see why they call him a True Alpha.

“What if I don’t?”

“I’ll kill you. Omega protection laws say that as her Alpha I can defend her in anyway I might need to.” He warns and while Grant pales Steve continues, “Now, you’re going to apologize to Fawn, you’re going to leave her alone and I’m not going to have to remind you again.”

“Sorry Fawn.” You nod then Steve turns him around and gives him a little shove and Grant meanders away from you.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Steve asks turning toward you.

“Yea, are you?” When he looks at you quizzically you clarify, “you were so angry.”

“You could tell?”

“I could feel it.” The slow smile he gives you causes your heart to race.

“Oh Honey,” he breathes pressing his forehead to yours. You can feel his breath slide across your cheek and you sigh softly as you close your eyes. Something wet hits your cheek and you pull away from Steve and look up at the sky as the clouds break.

You’re practically drenched in a matter of seconds,

“Rain! Steve rain!” You cry tilting your head back, a smile stretched across your face as the rain pours down on you. Finally, you’ve been waiting for this rain to knock down the fires and it’s finally here.

But no more fires means no more Steve. Your smile falls off of your face as quickly as it bloomed. “Rain.”

“Honey,” Steve says looking concerned.

“No more fire means no more you.” You choke out and he gently gathers you in to him.

“Shh, we can talk about it. This might not knock out all the fire.”

“But if it does,”

“We figure it out.” He soothes, “dance with me?”

“What?” You ask not moving your head from where it’s pressed to his chest. He takes your left hand gently in his right and puts your right hand up on his shoulder while wrapping his left arm around your back then he starts to sway.

It’s soothing, the way he slowly sways and hums. The rainwater is cool as it falls but you find that you don’t care at least not until it gets chilly.

“You wanna head home?”

“Yes, can, can you sleep with me again tonight?”

“Yea Honey.” You round the car and slide into the passengers seat before Cooper licks your face.

“Thanks Coop. You good boy.” You tell him and Steve starts the car then heads for home. Steve reaches over and offers you one of his hands, which you happily take and leave in your lap. It’s been nearly three weeks at this point and you’re not sure how you’re going to feel when he leaves. You’ve heard that it can be excruciating for an Omega to be without their Alpha but Steve technically isn’t your Alpha.

It’s still raining heavily when you get back home. You and Steve cook dinner together after he showers and you change into something dry. As you eat you talk a little about your day, how your drawings were approved and that printing will start soon. Steve is proud of you, a welcome feeling after Grant.

Your heart sinks when Bucky comes home early.

“Fires look like they’re all out.” He says with a grin and you have to blink away your tears before either man notices. Cooper does notice though and he comes over to you putting his head in your lap. You pet him absentmindedly while half listening to Steve and Bucky talk. They talk about the fire, the rain and when the subject of their trip home comes up you have to leave the room. It makes you too sad to think about them leaving.

You take Cooper out, grabbing the umbrella that you keep by the door on your way out. You don’t fool yourself and think that Steve hasn’t noticed your change in mood or the tears gathering on your eyelashes but you need a moment. You let Cooper run around in the rain, one of his favorite things to do, and you let a few of the tears fall.

You’re so conflicted on what to do. You’re 99% sure that Steve is your Alpha. The one Alpha for you, with how he makes you feel, and how he treats you and the fact that you can feel his emotions are all signs that he’s probably your Alpha. You’d be completely thrilled if he didn’t come from New York. If he wasn’t the True Alpha of his pack. But none of those things are true. He is the True Alpha, he lives in New York City, and you live here.

“Hey,” Steve says quietly from just inside the house. “You okay?”

“I don’t know.” You admit not looking at him,“I wanna be but I don’t know.”

“Wanna talk me through it?”

“I’m just really conflicted. I know in my gut you’re my Alpha, but you live there and I live here and I like it here. I like the smallness, the woods and the mountains. I can’t ask you to move your whole pack, and shouldn’t you being my Alpha be enough? Why isn’t it enough? Is there something wrong me with me?”

“Nothing is wrong with you.” Steve assures you, “all of your feelings and thoughts are completely valid. If it makes you feel any better I know in my gut you’re my Omega. I’ve known since you opened the door. The pack and I will do whatever you need to be happy, no Alpha command needed.”

“I can’t ask you all to move here. How big is your pack?”

“All together around fifty.”

“Fifty! Steve! That’s huge!”

“Why don’t you come to New York with us? You and I can go upstate? See if we can find somewhere that’s close enough to the city but quiet enough for you?”

“I’m scared Steve.”

“Of what?”

“You know the last Alpha I had. What if this doesn’t work and I’ve moved my whole life to the other side of the country?”

“Do you own this place?” You nod, “then keep it. If it doesn’t work you still have a home but if it does we have a vacation place.”

“Would you want me to stop taking my suppressants?”

“If you want to. I know it’s easier to have kids when you’re not on them.”

“You’d want kids with me?”

“I want it all with you Omega. I want the bonding. The marriage. The family. I want all of it.” You’re floored by his admission you finally turn toward him and throw an arm around his neck pulling his lips to yours. Steve is gentle when he pulls your body flush against his, he’s warm and solid against you.

“I’ll come to New York with you. Are you sure you could live outside the city?”

“For you? Yes. Easily and happily.”

“Can we bring Cooper?”

“Of course. Are you gonna be alright traveling with the three of us?”

“Yea. I think I can manage.” You tell him with a smile, “when do you want to leave?”

“I don’t know, I’ve got to talk to Sam and Bucky. I’m sure they’ll wanna get back as much as I do but we have to be sure the fires are out for good. Maybe three days?”

“Okay, you might need to talk me down again. Get me out of my own head.”

“I can do that.” He promises, “you’re sure you want to go?”

“Yes. When I think of being left here without you it fills me with such dread. But I might get nervous about meeting your pack and about being on the east coast in a huge city.”

“The pack is going to love you. You don’t need to worry about that. Can I check your ribs again?”

“I suppose. Come on Cooper!”

“He’s soaked.” Steve says and you glance over at a very muddy Cooper.

“Yea, he loves the rain.” You’ll need to give him a bath before bedtime, luckily he loves bath time almost as much as he loves the rain. “I’ll have to give him a b-a-t-h. He loves them and will lose his mind when I say the word.”

“Ah.” Steve gives you a little half smile, “want help?”

“Only if you’re ready to get drenched again.”

“Bring it on.”

“Hey Cooper, wanna take a bath?” You say and as promised loses his mind barking and dancing around you excitedly. You let him in and he bolts downstairs.

Steve helps you give Cooper a bath and as you predict you’re both completely soaked by the time you’re done.

“Who got a bath? You two or Cooper?” Bucky teases as you and Steve go past him in the living room.

“Cooper, give him a hug.” You tell the dog who runs over to Bucky and still soaking wet jumps up into Bucky’s lap and throws his body onto Bucky’s torso.

“Awe Cooper!” You and Steve laugh as Bucky debates if he wants your dog off of him or if he’s just going to let it happen. He finally surrenders and hugs Cooper back as you and Steve head upstairs.

After Steve checks your shoulder and ribs he seems pleased with how you’re healing. Cooper sleeps with Bucky instead of you and honestly it’s kind of nice that you and Steve have the bed to yourselves. It would be even nicer if you could relax.

“Steve?”

“Hmm?”

“Will you tell me about the pack?”

“Can’t sleep?” You hum softly in response. So you drift off to his voice telling you about his pack.

The next three days are busy, you get things together for your trip to New York. You use as much of the perishable food as you can and bring other stuff to the food shelf in town. You pack up all of your book stuff, some of your clothes and whatever you’ll need for Cooper. You and Steve decide that you’ll drive your car with Cooper and some of your stuff then Sam and Bucky will drive the truck with everything else that you want to bring out and their stuff.

It’s weird locking up your place for what could be the last time. But you think that you’re ready, Steve is watching you out of the corner of his eye while he talks to Sam and Bucky. He gives you this sweet smile when you come walking down the sidewalk, Cooper on your heels.

“Ready to go Omega?” Steve asks and you nod, both his friends share a pleased look then both head for the drivers seat. A tussle breaks out, Sam getting Bucky into a headlock but Bucky is able to muscle his way out of the headlock and throws Sam to the ground before jumping into the truck with a triumphant yell.

“Is this going to be a bad idea?” You ask an unamused Steve.

“They’ll be fine. I’m more annoyed with them, I just know they’re gonna embarrass me on this trip.” He says as you walk to your car together, he opens the back for Cooper then buckles him in and joins you in the car.

“Maybe I should’ve ridden with them to hear the stories.”

“Absolutely not.” Steve says lightly, “besides you wouldn’t really leave your Alpha all alone would you?”

“Not unless I have to.” You admit and he takes your hand. He presses a kiss to the back of it and gives you a soft smile. You’d let him mark you right now if he was a normal Alpha you realize with a start, your anxiety spikes at the thought.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just, this is big ya know? I’ve been this fiercely independent fake Beta for like 18 years or so? And now I’m leaving that life behind.”

“You can still be an independent fake Beta.”

“No I can’t,” you admit, “I didn’t renew my prescription. I have a week left.”

Tag list:

@memyselfandmaddox @thefanficfaerie @patzammit @dsakita @dramadreamer14 @killcomet @thesassmisstress @andahugaroundtheneck @loving-life-my-way @thefridgeismybestie @dumblani @im-just-another-monster @mywinterwolf @giggleberts @biskwitmamaw @geeksareunique @paintballkid711 @lumar014 @also-fangirlinsweden @connie326 @inkedaztec @eralen @valsworldofcreativity @strangersstranger @blackwidownat2814 @sky0401 @winterbuckystan1917 @dontbescaredtosingalong

[latchingontoallofyou]

Changed Mind - A Valenna fic

“Hi Peta.”

“Jenna! How are you, love?”

“I’m good. I had a class today?”

“Teaching or being the student?”

“Student.”

“I miss that sometimes.”

“Exactly why I’m doing it.”

“I might have to join you one day.”

“That would be so much fun. So, I called for kind of a weird reason. All through class I was think about how much I wanted to take a bath and well, my apartment doesn’t have a bathtub. I was kind of hoping you’d let me invade you house and take a bath?”

“Of course! No one is there right now. I’ve got Shai here with me and Maks is at the studio too. I think we are going out for dinner tonight so take all the time that you need.”

“Oh my goodness Peta, you are a life saver. Thank you so much!”

“Any time Jen. You know that. You’re part of the family.”

“I was…”

“No you are. No matter what, you will always be a part of the family. I’ll make sure of it.”

“We both know the Chmerkovskiy boys will do anything you ask so… Anyway. Thanks again Peta. I’ll be more than happy to babysit Shai as a thank you whenever you want.”

“There’s no need for a thank you but I might take you up on that offer to babysit.”

“Anytime. Just let me know when and where.”

“Alright. I’ll text you the garage code. Enjoy you bath. I’ll talk to you later.”

After hanging up with Peta, Jenna goes and grabs her toiletries and a change of clothes and heads downstairs. Britany is just gathering her things as well.

“Where you going? You just got home?” Britany asks.

“I’m going to invade Peta’s. They have a bathtub and all through class I kept thinking I wanted a bath so I called and she said I could go there.”

“Oh ok. That’s nice. How I about I drive you there. I could pick you up after rehearsal. I have a short rehearsal today.”

“That could work. Thanks.”

“No problem. Are you ready cause I’ve got to head out.”

“Yup.”                                                                          

“Jen, you know I’m proud of you right?”

“Yes” Jenna responds with a smile. Britany has taken to telling her this everyday at least once. It’s always at random.

“I was going to see if you wanted to come to the studio but maybe another time? I’m not sure he’s there now anyway.”

“Brit…”

“I’m just saying, you always go in search of him.”

“We’re friends Brit. We’ve always helped each other out with choreography. You know that.”

“But, I don’t know, I guess this just seems different to me.”

Things have been a bit different lately. After a rough patch after a sudden break up, Jenna had built herself back up. She is the most confident she had been in a very long time. The friendship between her and Val had never really gone away but more taken a step back after the break up. They were civil to each other and still hung out with others around but lately they found themselves moving away from the groups to talk or just hang out, like the good times.

“How so?”

“You’re seeking him out and not telling anyone. You always would tell us. Now if we’re in a big group, you just up and leave and then we spot you with him.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…”

“Jen, we aren’t upset. We understand. There has always been something there between you. At first you both ignored and denied it until you could anymore. Then you were together. Then you broke up, your choice that time, which we never understood. He won you back but then ruined it. Now you’re both caught in the middle and back to ignoring, not each other but the wants and feelings.”

“We…”

“Jenna, don’t. We only want what makes you happy. That’s why I’m pointing this out. I don’t know if you realize you are doing it let alone him but you both are. Just think about it. Let this relaxing bath help you think” Britany says as she pulls up to Maks and Peta’s house.

“Thank you, Brit. Text or call me when you are on your way.”

“Ok. Let me know if anything changes.”

Jenna lets herself in through the garage and makes her way up to the guest bedroom with the bathroom attached and runs the bath. She adds some bubbles and turns on light music. She pulls out her book and waits for the tub to fill. She tries to read but she can’t seem to get past the first sentence on the page. All that Britany had said was repeating over and over in her head, making it impossible to focus. She knew that what Britany had said about her was true. She was searching Val out more now. She had always wanted to be around him. She feels she’s at her best around him. She feels the most comfortable and confident with him. During their break up, she had grown her self-confidence. She now wanted to show Val the new her she told herself. If she’s truthful, she really wanted to just have him again. Have him hold her close, call her babe, kiss her, just be with her.

She turns the water off and climbs in, hoping the warm water will help her focus on her book and not her thoughts.

~

Val had had a rough rehearsal. Normani was struggling with this dance. She keeps missing steps, bumping into him, stepping on his feet. One would think this was their first rehearsal but it wasn’t. They are a few weeks in now and it shouldn’t be like this. He knew it wouldn’t be this way if she wasn’t so exhausted. All the travel and lack of sleep or really even down time really caught up to her today and she is really struggling. He finally decided to call it a day, knowing they weren’t going to get anywhere with her this tired. Plus, he wasn’t sure his body could handle much more today. As he took the step down out of the room, feeling every muscle in his legs scream out, he knows just what he needs. He struggles with the thought because the last time he did this, Jenna was included. Really, every time he did this, Jenna had been with him.

Giving in to his legs and knowing Maks was in the studio next door with Alan and Heather, he pokes his head in to the studio.

“That was good. Take a break for a minute” Maks says and then looks towards the door. “Hey Val. What’s up?”

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Sure. Make that 5 guys” he says to Alan and Heather as he heads towards the door and then steps out. “What’s up?”

“Normani’s really struggling today.”

“All that travel caught up to her. I remember that. Although it hit me not…”

“Yea I remember. Glad to see you mentioning her again.”

“Shut up.”

“Sorry. Dude, I’m so sore. I haven’t felt like this in such a long time. Not even after tour.”

“That’s because you had J…”

“If I can’t go there you can’t. I just wanted to know if I could go to your house and use your bathtub. I could use a warm bath to calm the aches.”

“You know you don’t have to ask.”

“Well I didn’t want you to come home and…”

“Peta and I are going out to dinner tonight with Sharna. We won’t be home for a little while.”

“What about Shai?”

“You really think we’re leaving him alone?”

“I could…”

“Sharna would kill us.”

“You’re right. Alright. I’ll let you get back to work. Thanks again.”

“You don’t need to thank me and you know that.”

“At least let me watch Shai next time you want to go out.”

“That’s up to Peta. See you later.”

With that, Val heads out of the studio and heads over to Maks’ house.

~

Figuring he should probably let Peta know Val is going to the house, Maks goes over to Peta’s studio room. Only Nick is in there.

“She’s feeding Shai.”

“Thanks.”

He heads to the private room where she always feeds in and with a knock, walks in.

“Hi babe” she says with a smile.

“Hi” he says kissing her and then Shai’s head.

“Just so you know Jenna is at the house using the bathtub. She wanted a bath after her class.”

“You’re kidding right?”

“No and you aren’t allowed to be mad. She’s a part of the family and always will be as long as I am.” Maks laughs and Peta gives him a frown.

“You’re right. I’m not mad. It’s just” he laughs again, “Val is heading there now for a bath. He had a rough rehearsal and wanted a warm bath to help his muscles recover.”

“Oh my goodness, this is perfect! This might be just what they needed!”

“I hope you are right!” Maks laughs. “Should we tell him?”

“No way! Let it be a surprise to them. It will be better that way.”

~

When Val pulls up to house, he parks in the driveway and lets himself in through the front door since he has a key. He left his bag in the car knowing he has extra clothes in the guest room. When he gets upstairs. The door to the guest room is open as usual and he goes in. He gets undressed and leaves his clothes on the floor in a pile for him to get later when he’s done.

As he goes to open the bathroom door, he hears soft music but figures it’s just the music that is always running in his head sounding louder in the quietness of the house. As he opens the door, the music gets louder and then he sees her, making him jump.

“Jenna!”

“Val! What are you doing here?” she says sinking lower in the bubbles.

“Maks said I could come here and take a bath. What are you doing here?”

“Peta said I could use the bathtub. I can go…”

“No stay. I’ll just come back later. They won’t be home until later.”

“I know. Peta told me” she says still staring at his eyes, avoiding looking at his very naked body.

“Do you think they played us?” he asks still looking over her laying low in the tub.

“No. Knowing them, they didn’t talk about it yet.”

“I’ll text Maks.”

“It’s fine Val. I’ll just get out so you…”

“Wait, your car isn’t here” he says stepping farther into the bathroom so she tilts her head up higher to look at his face. “How did you get here?”

“Britany drove me. She said she’d get me after rehearsal.”

“Hmm. Ok. I’ll just go watch…”

“Val?”

“Yea?”

“You could join me if you want.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes” she says shyly looking away from his face and down his body.

He smiles and walks over to the tub. “Where?”

Jenna scoots forwards in the tub, inviting Val to slide in behind her. He smirks and climbs in, pulling her back against him and kissing her head.

“Oh, how I’ve missed this” he says, wrapping his arms around her.

“Me too” she truthfully breathes out.

“Babe?”

She smiles and lets out a happy sigh. “Yes”

“I’ve really missed this.”

“Me too. I’ve haven’t done this since… we were together” she says shifting against him.

“Me either.”

“Not even with…”

“No. Can we not talk about that please?”

“Sorry.”

“It’s just… not my proudest moment.”

“I understand.”

“Jenna, can I says something?”

“Yes.”

“You seem different.”

“Oh.”

“No, like in a good way.”

“I spend a lot of time on myself. I wanted to be a better me.”

“I love you.”

“What?”

“I love you. I never stopped. I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

“Me too.”

“You too what?”

“I never stopped loving you.”

“What do we do now?” he asks quietly.

“Just be us.”

“I like that” he says kissing her head. “But babe, this bath isn’t warm anymore.”

“Should I run the water again?”

“I’ll go get us some snacks.”

“You might want to find a book or something babe because I’ve been reading and…”

“Jenna.”

“No, not in their tub!”

“They don’t use it. They have one in their bathroom. We’ve both used this tub more than they have.”

“No Val.”

“But…”

“No.”

“Alright. I’ll find a book.”

~

With new warm water in the tub, they are both back in, surrounded by bubbles and each other. Jenna is leaning against Val as she reads her book. Val has one arm wrapped around Jenna and the other holding his book. They are happily content sitting in the tub, relax, healing, and reading together until an interruption comes. Both of their phones ding, alerting a text message.

Val grabs both phones off the floor of the bathroom with his dry hand without looking. They both look at their texts at the same time, both laughing.

P- How was your bath? ;)

“I’ve got this babe” he says holding out his phone and takes a selfie of them in the tub. Jenna is covered in bubbles and low enough in the water that nothing is showing. He sends the pictures to Peta and says nothing else.

“That will make her happy” Jenna says as Val puts their phones back down.

“Who cares if she’s happy. We are the one that need to be happy and I think it’s safe to say we are.”

“Hmm, I agree” she says wiggling against him.

“If you want to keep you word, you better knock that off and keep reading.”

Jenna dog ears her page and puts it on the bathroom floor before turning around to face Val, taking his book from his hand and doing the same.

“I’ve changed my mind.”

Person A is taking a bath. Person B is unaware of this fact and also decides to take a bath. Person B accidentally walks in on Person A, completely nude. What happens next is up to you. OT3 bonus: Person C orchestrated the whole thing, and walks in after Person B with a smug grin.

[ecotone99]

[MF] Night of The Koi

The workers finished at about 4:30 PM. Richard smiled and shook their hands, thanking them for all their hard work, assuring them that it looked great and that he really appreciated it. They’d been filling in a koi pond in the backyard of his new house- A pond the previous owner had cherished and cared for dilligently, but since he and his partner Alex had bought the house, it had just fallen into grossness and disrepair. They’d made the decision to have the pond filled in, since there were no fish left in it anyway.

He wrote a check for $1,145.77 and handed each of the workers an extra 10 dollar bill just to thank them. They smiled and thanked him back and piled up in the old flatbed dodge they’d arrived in, and began to back out of the driveway, but just before they did, the driver rolled down the window and caught Richard’s attention. “Uhh, one last thing mista Peacock,” the driver called to him. “This uh...this dont usually happen, but, just in case...sometimes the koi...they dont like their pond bein’ filled in. Sometimes...they come back”. Richard began to chuckle, but the serious look in the driver's eyes told him this was no joke.

“Um...Come back?”

“Well...look, just between you and me...when a koi feels its been wronged, they can get downright nasty. Just sayin’.... It probably wont happen, but, just, ya know. Wanted to let ya know.”

With that the driver rolled up his window, waved, and backed out of the driveway. Richard stood in the yard and stared blankly, his gaze going back and forth between the newly-filled pond and the old truck’s taillights as it disappeared around the curve.

*********

“Oh this looks great sweetie” Alex said, walking around the area that had only hours ago been a small pond. “They did a really great job with this sod.”

“Yea, it looks really good. Hey Alex, let me ask you something” Richard said, poking the newly-solid ground with his toes. “What do you know about Koi?”

“Uh...Well...I think its just basically like a more interesting goldfish isn’t it?”

“Yea, I guess, but I mean like...Are they dangerous?”

Alex laughed, then saw the look on Richard’s face. “Umm...I doubt it, unless you’re like algae or something. May I ask why?”

“Uh...Nah, it’s stupid, dont worry about it.” “Uh huh. Well go get dressed, lets go celebrate with dinner.”

“Applebees??” Richard batted his eyelashes. Alex hated Applebees.

Alex sighed. “Fine, Applebees.” Richard kissed him on the cheek and skipped away into the house to get changed.

************

Dinner was terrible, as it always is at Applebees. But Richard was as happy as a person at Applebees could possibly be. “And I’ll have an order of boneless wings to go, please” he said smiling at the waitress. “Oh, and can I have another glass of Mr. Pib please?”

The waitress, a 40 something fat woman with one arm who resembled nothing so much as a troll with a hangover, grunted and took his glass from him. She returned moments later with a brimming glass of Mr. Pib, slammed it down in front of Richard (this was his 8th refill) and stumped away, muttering.

Richard sipped his Mr. Pib as Alex prattled on about something funny that happened at the pharmacy that day. Apparently a patient suffering from chronic irritable bowel syndrome had accidentally gotten a prescription-strength constipation medicine and hilarity had ensued. Richard politely listened as he sucked down yet another wonderful syrupy glass of Mr. Pib, and was so focused on its sugary goodness that he scarcely noticed when Alex stopped talking and stared in horror at his glass.

“Sweetie, put that down”

Richard clutched his glass tighter, wrapping both hands around it. “Never, it’s my precious” he growled. But Alex’s horrified stare convinced him that maybe this time he should listen. He set the glass down carefully and said “Wait...what is it?”

Alex pointed and said “There’s...something in your glass”

“Oh God is it another finger? Pablo, you said this wouldn’t happen again-” Richard turned toward the bartender who was already starting to say something in his own defense when Alex cut him off.

“No- Something is moving in there”

Richard gasped and jumped up from the table. It was one of those stupid high tables where the chairs are like 4 feet off the ground- you know, the kind they use at Applebees because they want to see you fall to your death- but he managed to land safely and peered at the glass. To his horror, the ice was indeed swirling around on its own. They both watched with terrified fascination as something rose to the surface.

“JESUS CHRIST IS THAT A FISH??” Richard screamed like a girl.

And so it was. A small, splotchy orange and white fish poked its head out of the top of the glass, its cold, predatory eyes fixed on Richard. Its small fish-mouth made gasping motions, and it seemed almost as though it were mouthing words to Richard. But he was too filled with horror to watch any longer, and flung himself toward the nearest exit, running to his car and locking himself in.

*********

The drive home was a tense one. Alex drove in silence while Richard sat in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead, muttering things like “I can believe I drank fish filth...that’s bad even for Applebees”. Alex tried to cheer him up, saying the manager offered them a coupon for $5 off their next visit, but it didn’t do any good.

Then a thought struck Richard.

“Hey, Alex...what kind of fish was that?”

Alex gave him a confused look. “I didn’t ask. Why?”

“You dont think that was a koi, do you?”

“I guess it could’ve been, yea. The waitress said someone must’ve slipped it in when she wasn’t looking. I said ‘thats what she said’ and we all had a good laugh.”

“Alex, listen- The man that filled in the pond, he told me something. He said that sometimes, when you fill in a pond like that, the Koi, they, I dont know, they know about it somehow, and they like...they come back.”

Alex stared straight ahead, but Richard could see the look on his face went from one of amusement to one of concern. “Richard, look, I think you’re just tired and I know you’re upset, I dont blame you-” “No, Alex, I’m telling you, the man said they ‘came back’. He said they could get nasty if they felt they’d been wronged-”

“Ok, ok. Look, lets just go lay down. We’ll watch some netflix and just try to forget about it ok?” “Ok” Richard said with a sigh.

*************************************

They’d been home for about an hour when Richard decided to go take a nice relaxing bath. Yes, this is just the thing he said to himself. A glass of wine, a good book, a nice hot bath, that’ll do the trick. He started the bathwater, lit some candles, poured a glass of merlot and grabbed his most recent book, a study in the nature of wormholes by some scientist that had gotten caught in one of those underage prostitution stings a few years ago.

Richard disrobed (he was wearing a robe) and slipped into the nice warm bath, soaking away his fears and worries. Alex knocked at the bathroom door and said “Sweetie, I’m gonna go up to McDonalds real quick.” Alex routinely capped off dinner at Applebees with a far more satisfying big mac about an hour later. “You want anything?”

“No, thanks. Just gonna enjoy my bath. Thanks. Be careful.”

“YOU be careful. I hope there’s no koi in that bathtub.” Alex laughed from behind the door.

Richard didn’t respond, but cast his eyes furtively at the tub. How stupid. Of course there’s no koi in the tub.

“And just in case there are,” he added, “I’m on to your tricks.”

**** Richard awoke with a start. The water had turned cold. He realized he must have fallen asleep in the tub. His candles had burned out and the room was very dark. He pulled himself out of the tub, noting that no light was coming in through the crack under the door. He felt around for the towel rack and, finding one, wrapped himself up. The chill March air made him shiver as he felt around for the lightswitch, and he finally found it, along with the bathroom heater. Turning both on, he stepped in front of the mirror to comb his hair, then, shrieking (again, just like a girl) took a step back. Written across the mirror in lipstick were the words “I KNOW WHAT YOU DID”.

Richard stormed through the bedroom and into Alex’s computer room. “Dude, that is so not funny”

Alex jumped up from his chair. Some superhero in a cat-man costume was doing battle with what appeared to be a giant gummi bear on the screen. “What?”

“You could’ve woke me up, that water is freezing”

“Sweetie, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you’d fallen asleep. I could hear the water splashing around in there and decided to not bother you.”

“Oh whatever, I saw the lipstick, I know what you did. You didn’t hear any water splashing, I’ve been asleep in the tub for-what time is it? God it must’ve been two hours.”

“Richard, calm down. I dont know what lipstick you’re talking about. I did hear splashing in the tub, I didn’t know what you were doing in there, so I just left you alone. What lipstick?”

Richard led Alex back into the bathroom and pointed to the mirror. There was nothing there. “Wait, hold on, I know I saw- hold on, how’d you-” Richard stammered angrily. “Where the hell did you even get lipstick Alex?” he demanded loudly.

Alex stared in bewilderment. “I have no idea what you’re talking about right now” was the only thing he could offer. Richard fumed.

“God dammit” Richard grumbled and began to storm out of the bathroom, but kicked something on his way- It was a tube of lipstick. He bent down to pick it up and said “See? Lipstick. Now why the hell-” and he stopped mid-sentence. He held the tube up closer and looked at the name. It was apparently a brand called “Topshop” and the name of this particular shade was ‘Feeling Coy’.

************************

Richard barely paused to get dressed before he was out in his backyard, Alex close at his heels.

“Richard, honey, look,” Alex tried to restrain him gently, but Richard pulled away, his eyes fixed on the store room.

“Richard, what are you doing?”

“They want their damn pond, I’m gonna give em their pond.”

Richard cleared the yard and flung open the door to the store room. He reached inside and quickly yanked out an old rusty shovel that had been left here by the previous owner.

“What are you going to do with that?”

“I told you, I’m giving them their damn pond”

“Richard this is insane, come inside”

In response, Richard buried the shovel up to the hilt in the sod that marked where the Koi pond had once been. As he did, they both heard the sound of the water hose turning on.

“Wait, who-” Alex paused. Richard glared at him. “You know who.”

Alex looked at him with disbelief. “Richard, I’m leaving. Something weird is going on here, we should go.” “You go. I’m going to end this.”

Alex shook his head and backed away. Before he got out of the driveway, he stole one last look at Richard, silhouetted against the moonlight, already ankle deep in a small hole.

******

Alex found him lying on his back in the mud at the edge of the new pond the next morning, an open book lying across his chest. . Alex had spent the night with friends and came back at dawn to find him there. The yard was completely flooded, and the hole Richard had dug was completely filled with muddy water, his feet dangling in.

“Richard, wake up. Are you okay?” Alex shook him. Richard lifted his head for a moment, then collapsed back down. With a trembling hand, he clawed the book on his chest and handed it to Alex. It was a book Richard had purchased just a couple weeks ago from Books-A-Million-- a book of poems he got because he thought it would make him “look smart” to have it casually laid open on the coffee table when guests came over.

Alex took the book, and saw it was opened to an old Andrew Marvell poem, “To His Coy Mistress.” Below, crudely scrawled in what appeared to be more red lipstick, was the word “REMEMBER.” Alex gasped at a sudden splash behind him.

“Fuuuuuuck this,” he said, throwing down the book into the muddy hole, and with a surge of fury snatched up the shovel from the ground beside Richard. “I’m going to show those mother fuckers what being coy is all about.”

Six hours later, the coroner was stumped. How could both men possibly have drowned in a backyard hole less than a foot deep? Yet that is what their autopsies revealed. He looked at their faces, and compared the bodies to their license photos. Why were they both wearing lipstick? Must be fags.

…

Let us roll all our strength and all

Our sweetness up into one ball,

And tear our pleasures with rough strife

Through the iron gates of life:

Thus, though we cannot make our sun

Stand still, yet we will make him run.

The End.

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